[Verse 1]Wendell Walker was a friend of mineWe'd stain our teeth in the summertimeAnd with lips of purple, the winter would rollPast the boarded windows into our soulsAnd shake our weary bonesNow this past winter was the coldest in yearsIt's hard to explain if you've never lived hereBut it locks your doors and starts your mindThinking in circles just to pass the timeAnd breaks your weary heartNow Wendell Walker was a man of GodBut he didn't care much for his sober mindAnd when the cold mixed in he was turned aroundHeard the voice of God and the angels soundA message just for him:

[Refrain]"My son, my son, she is the devil's childWon't you save her while you canCut down the other man"

[Verse 2]Now Wendell Walker was a friend of mineBut he married too young in the summertimeTheir hearts weren't ripe so they fell apartAnd I found myself with a joyful heartAs our secret lives beganWe found our moments in between the hoursWhen Wendell Walker drove his car to townBut one day he found a letter that I wrote for herOn the top of her dresser and in his winter mindHe heard the voice of God say:

[Refrain]"My son, my son, she is the devil's childWon't you save her while you canCut down the other man"

[Verse 3]With the voice of the lord ringing in his earsAnd the note to his wife that confirmed his fearsHe sat down on the edge of the bedRead the letter again to see who'd sent itBut it was signed 'forever yours'He stood up slow like he'd just been hitWalked into the kitchen where his wife was sittingHe said, "my mother called on the telephoneShe says she needs some help so I'll be back in the morning"And he grabbed his heavy coatMy phone rang while I was watching the newsShe said the house was ours to cure these winter bluesSo I made my way, and we turned the blindsAnd Wendell walked in just in timeTo see our secret die and say:

[Outro]"My son, my son I'm gonna have to cut you down"He pointed his rifle to my eyesBut his hesitating handsWere shaking from the coldSo I pushed his gun awayJust as he found his strengthAnd the bullet kissed her lipsAnd I cried:"My god, my god what have I done?"And he reloaded his gunAnd he put it in his mouthAnd I stood in the room that I'd created